WINONA LAKE - Ind. – Grace's men's tennis team came out victorious in a hotly contested match on Saturday afternoon at the Don Cramer Tennis Courts. The Lancers came from behind to stay undefeated in conference play, winning 4-3 over Indiana Wesleyan.
The Wildcats gained momentum early by picking up the doubles point to get the match started. All three courts finished with the same 6-4 scoreline.
When the match turned to singles play, IWU continued to hold the advantage, getting the first two points to get one point away from the clincher.
The Lancers dropped the first two points at the top of the lineup.
Andreas Polichronopoulos was forced to retire in his duel on court one.
Benjamin Rahine was in a back and forth battle at No. 2 singles. He won the first set 7-5, but dropped the next two sets 6-2, 6-2.
Grace needed to get points in a hurry while facing match point. Auerlein Coan earned the first point, winning a tiebreaker at No. 3 singles 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2).
From there, Grace began to gain momentum.
Manuel Marques picked up the second point with a 6-2, 6-4 showing.
Stergios Papadopoloulos brought the match level at three points a piece with a point at No. 6 court 6-0, 6-1.
The clincher came from
Mahefa Rakotomalala where he blanked his opponent 6-0, 6-0 to give the 20th-ranked Lancers the 4-3 victory.
Grace will hit the road for a top-20 matchup against No. 17 Huntington on Monday March 20.
DOUBLES
1. Matheus Lima / Michail Klinkov (IWU) def.
Benjamin Rahine /
Mahefa Rakotomalala (GC) 6-4
2. Timo Fischer / Valentino Trento (IWU) def.
Manuel Marques /
Andreas Polichronopoulos (GC) 6-4
3. Carter Poquette / Isaiah Hostetler (IWU) def Stergios Papadopoloulos /
Aurelien Coan (GC) 6-4
SINGLES
1. Matheus Lima (IWU) def.
Andreas Polichronopoulos (GC) 7-6(4), 4-1, retired
2. Michail Klinkov (IWU) def.
Benjamin Rahine (GC) 5-7, 6-2, 6-2
3.
Aurelien Coan (GC) def. Valentino Trento (IWU) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(2)
4.
Manuel Marques (GC) def. Timo Fischer (IWU) 6-2, 6-4
5.
Mahefa Rakotomalala (GC) def. Carter Poquette (IWU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Stergios Papadopoloulos (GC) def. Isaiah Hostetler (IWU) 6-0, 6-1
